PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS' STRIKE ENDS

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000071 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB IV SUBJECT: PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS' STRIKE ENDS REF: ABIDJAN 1314 ¶1. Primary schools in Cote d'Ivoire reopened on January 4, 2007, ending a six-week strike by primary school teachers (reftel). The teachers agreed to resume work after accepting an offer by the Government of Cote d'Ivoire (GOCI) of CFA 30,000 (USD 60) per month to increase housing allowances starting in March 2007. When they launched the strike, the teachers had initially demanded a housing allowance of CFA 40,000 (USD 80) per month. ¶2. The teacher's acceptance of the GOCI's offer was conditional. They agreed to accept CFA 30,000 (USD 60) only for twelve months from March 2007 to March 2008. After that, they are demanding that the figure rise to CFA 40,000 per month, and that the GOCI pay back the "aggregated arrears" of CFA 120,000, (CFA 10,000 each month) owed to each teacher from the initial twelve-month period. ¶3. Comment: While the GOCI and teachers have yet to work out some pay issues, we expect they will do so. In the meantime, it is significant that a potentially destabilizing strike has been settled at a price that the government apparently feels it can afford. End Comment. Hooks